Bag



June 1l, 1957 M, J, BERRY ET Al.A

2 Sheets-Sheet l MORRIS J. BERRY LOUIS WELLS BAG Filed June 16, 1955lul/1:1111' lll 1111//4 u INVENTOR.

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United States Patent BAG Morris J. Berry and Louis Wells, Brooklyn, N.Y.

Application June 16, 1955, Serial No. 515,924

6 Claims. (Cl. 15G-28) This invention relates to improvements in picnicbags.

The basic requisite of a receptaclel used to transport picnicperishables is the preservation of the perishable in the original freshcondition when packed. Since perishables are adversely affected byexposure to the temperature and humidity of the atmosphere, the picnicreceptacle must eiliciently insulate the contents from the ambientatmosphere. However for practical purposes, the receptacle must beextremely portable, inexpensively fabricated and provide maximum accessto the contents without introducing signicant losses in insulation. Thechief insulation losses in picnic receptacles are introduced through theclosure structure which provides access to the contents therein. Invarious conventional picnic receptacles clamping and locking devices areprovided for the purposes of tightly pressing a movable cover againstthe perimeter of anopening in the body of the receptacle to ensure aninsulating seal. The proper manipulation of these clamping devices toopen and close the receptacle consumes time, energy and results insignicant losses in insulation. Since in the normal course of a picnic,frequent access to the contents in the receptacle is required, theopening and locking of the clamping devices becomes a tedious detail.Moreover should the user forget to lock the cover, the perishableswithin the receptacle will be almost completely exposed to the effect ofthe ambient atmosphere.

ln the instant invention a picnic bag is provided which eflicientlysolves the problems cited above. In brief the novel picnic bag comprisesa lightweight insulated plastic bag having an access opening at the topwhich is sealed by overlapping lids pivoted to opposite sides of theopening. The lids are biased to the sealed position by the pivotingmeans when the edges of the lids overlie the opening. When the outeredges of the lids have been pivotally opened to a position beyond theaccess opening the pivoting means biases the lids to a fully openposition. The lid edges are provided with special sealing lips whicheffect a tight seal when in the closed position. Due to this novelclosure structure, the bag can be conveniently opened with a minimum oftime and energy. Moreover to close the bag one merely has to move thelids beyond a dead-center position whereupon the lids are automaticallysnapped shut, reducing appreciably the chances of leaving the bagaccidentally open. In addition to the cited functional advantages overthe conventional clamping devices, the novel closure structureintroduces substantial economies in fabrication.

Consequently the primary object of this invention is the provision of aportable, lightweight picnic bag, adequately insulated, having an accessopening controlled by a closure structure which is reciprocable from asealed position to an open position with a` minimum expenditure of timeand effort without involving complicated locking devices. 4

Another object of this invention is the provision of a lightweight,adequately insulated, portable picnic bag 2,795,258 Patented June 11,1957 having carrying straps and a self-sealing means for closing anaccess opening. i

A further inventive object is the provision of a plastic picnic baglined with insulating material.

A still further inventive object is the provision of a picnic bag ofplastic material and provided with an access opening controlled bypivotal self-sealing closure lids.

A still further inventive object is the provision of a picnic bag havinga pair of oppositely disposed closure lids superimposed over an accessopening wherein the lids are biased resiliently to a closed overlappingposition.

A still further inventive object is the provision of a portable picnicbag having a pair of closure lids pivotally superimposed over an accessopening wherein the lids are pivoted to the bag by means of a hingestructure which for certain degrees of opening biases the lids to aclosed sealed position and for other degrees of opening biases the lidsto an open position.

A still further inventive object is the provision of a pair of closurelids for a picnic bag having a metallic structure embedded within theperiphery ofthe lids biasing the lids to a closed sealed position.

A still further inventive object is the provision of a pair ofoverlapping closure lids for a picnic bag wherein the lids includesealing lips adapted to engage each other reversibly to tightly seal thebag access opening.

Further objects and advantageous features of the invention will becomemore apparent from the following detailed description when read inconjunction with the annexed drawings in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of the novel picnic bag when closed;

Figure 2 is a horizontal section taken through plane 2 2 of Figure lshowing the construction of the bag lining and seams;

Figure 3 is a vertical section through the closure lids along plane 3 3of Figure l showing the lid sealing structure;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the bag in the open position;

Figure 5 is a plan view of the metallic frame which is embedded in thelid peripheries and in the edges of the bag surrounding the accessopening; and

Figure 6 is a plan view of the metallic frame in the position assumedwhen the lids are closed.

Referring to Figure 4, the novel picnic bag is seen to comprisegenerally a bottom wall 10, parallelly spaced end walls 11 perpendicularto the bottom wall, spaced side walls 12 slightly inclined to the bottomwall and perpendicular to the end walls, and top closure lids 13 and 14projecting pivotally from the upper edges of the side walls 12,enclosing therein a compartment for the storage of picnic items. A pairof straps 15 are each secured to the opposing side walls 12, bystitching or other conventional means, providing loops for carryingpurposes.

As better seen in Figure 2 the walls of the bag are lcomposed of spacedsheets of plastic 16 and 17 enclosing therebetween an insulatingmaterial 44 such as glass wool or the like. The intersecting edges ofthe bag walls are sealingly joined by means of longitudinal curved beadsof plastic 18 which envelope the abutting ends 19 of the plasticlsheets. The beads 18 are then secured to the ends 19 with stitching 20forming longitudinal seams along the peripheral edges of the bag.

By spacing the beads 18 from the ends 19 an air pocket is formedproviding an additional insulating layer about the edges of the bag. Theseam structure described in connection with Figure 2 is representativeof the seam structure provided at all the edges of the bag excepting theedges of the lids 13 and 14. In Figure 3 .the edge construction of thelids 13 and 14 are each better seen 3 to comprise the plastic sheets 16`and 17,forming homogeneous extensions of the sheets comprising the sidewalls 12, and enclosing a glass wool insulating layer 44. The thicknessof the glass wool layer adjacent the opposingends 2,1 and 22 of thesheets 1,6 and 17 taperstowards the ends and the outer plastic sheetsy16 arecurved towards the inner sheets 17 to provide outer beveledsurfaces 23 and ,24.

Longitudinal sealing llaps 25 `and 26. of `plastic are disposed alongthe inner plastic sheets 17 adjacent the lid edges.` The ends 21 and 22and the open ends of the f laps 25 and `26 are enclosedby plastic beads27 and 28 secured to the lid edge structure` by stitching 29 and 30.Both ofthe aps 25 and 26 include metallic bands 31 and 32 which areembedded therein respectively. The metallic bands form aportion of a`hinge-frameV assembly whose structure and function will be disclosedbelow in greater detail. Due to the envelopment of the bands 31 and 32within the flaps 25 and 26, the inner ends 33 and 34 of theflaps 25 and26 provide beveled surfaces complementary to the surfaces 23 and 24.Thus the surfaces 33 of lid 13 and 24 of lid 14 .constitutecomplementary opposing surfaces adapted to engage sealingly` forinsulatory purposes when lid 13 overlies lid 14. Conversely when `lid 14overlies lid 13fthe surfaces 34 and 23 are adapted to engage sealingly.In addition to other functions to be disclosedrthe bands 31 and 32reinforce the edges of the lids to maintain the desired shape.

The `lids 13 and 14. are pivotally secured to the end walls `11 by meansof a hinge-frame assembly shown in Figures 5 and 6. The hinge-frameassembly comprises the spaced bands 31 and 32 which are embedded inedges of the lids 13 and 14, the pairs of legs 35 and 36 integrallysecured at right angles to the bands 31 and 32 and the middle strips 37and 38 which are pivotally connected in alignment with `the pairs oflegs 35 and 36 by pairs of spring hinges 39 and 40.` The pairs of hingesinclude spring biasing means which urge the bands 31 and.32 either tothe open position of Figure 5 `or the closed position of Figure 6depending upon `the angle existingbetween the pairs of legs 35 and 36and the middle strips 37 and 38; When the bands 31 and 32 overlie thestrips 37 and 38 the spring hinges bias the bands to the closedposition; when the bands 31 and 32 do not overlie the strips, they willbe biased to` the open e position as seen in Figure 5.

The middle strips 37 and 33 are embedded `in a pair of edges 41 whichproject at right angles towards each other from the end walls 11.Similarly the lids 13 and 14 are provided with short projections 42 and43 which align withthe edges 41 and enclose the leg pairs 3S and 36respectively.

Consequently when the bag is in the closed condition (Figure l) thespring hinges force the lids 13 and 14 tightly against each othercausing the surfaces 33 and 24 to engage in a sealing relationship. Thelower lid l/i also is forced to bear sealingly against the edges 41 duetothe embedded portions of the hinge-frame assembly. Since the lid edgesare each provided with corresponding sealing surfaces` on both surfaces,the relative positions can be reversed andstill maintains` the desiredsealed relationship.

To open the bagfthe user merely pivots each lid manually away from the`other until the angle formed between the lids and the strips 41 exceeds90 whereupon the spring hinges will automatically force the lids to thefully open position of Figure 4. This position will be maintained untilthe user moves the lids inwardly to a position wherein the angleformedbetween the lids and the strips 41 is less than 90. The spring clipswill then complete and maintain the closed position.

It is now apparent that` the bag provided herein can be opened andclosed with a minimumof effort requiring no special locking devices.Furthermore since `the bag can only` assume `a fully closed `or a fullyopen position, it is 2,795,258 l A A virtually impossible for the bag toremain open `uncletected. Due to the simple construction, the bag can beeconomically fabricated andthe weight kept to minimum increasing theportability thereof. It should be further noted that the user need notconcern himself as to which lid is to be closed first due to thereversible sealing structure provided at the lid edges.

By decreasing the time required to open and close the bag and virtuallyeliminating the possibility of leaving the bag unintentionally open, theinsulation provided by the bag is more cliiciently utilized.

Although. the depicted embodiments are preferred, it is further stressedthat many modifications can be devised involving changes in size, shape,material, rearrangements of parts, etc., without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention as disclosed herein and claimedhereinafter.

Having thus described in detail the nature of the invention, a grant ofLetters Patent is desired forthe improvements as defined in thefollowing appended claims.

We claim:

l. A bag comprising a plurality of walls enclosing a compartmentincluding an access aperture and a closure therefore, said wallscomprising spaced sheets of a plastic material with a layer of glasswool therebetween, said walls being joined at the intersections thereofwith curved beads stitched about the intersections, said beads enveloping the `abutting ends of the plastic sheets and being spaced fromsaid ends to form an air pocket about the edges of said bag, saidclosure comprising spaced sheets of plastic enclosing a layer of thermalinsulation therebetween, said closure being secured to the walls wherebythe closure is recpirocable from a closed position to a fully openposition.

2. A bag comprising a plurality of side walls, a bottom wall and anaccess opening, `said walls being formed of spaced layers of plasticsheet material surrounding a layer ofinsulating material, in combinationwith a pair of closure lids pivotally mounted on opposite sides of the`opening, said lids being of suiiicient dimensions to completely closethe opening when in one position and being reciprocable to anotherposition whereby the access opening is completely unobstructed, each ofsaid lids including edges provided with sealindg means adapted to engagethe edge of the opposing lid to completely seal the opening when in therst said position, in further combination with resilient means biasingthe lids to the first said position when the angles between the lids andthe plane of the opening is less than 90, and to the open position whenthe said angles are more than 90.

3. A bag comprising a bottom, spaced side walls, end walls perpendicularto the side walls and the bottom, said walls being formed of spacedlayers of plastic sheet material surrounding a layer of insulatingmaterial, an access opening and closure lids pivotally secured to thesidewalls adjacent the opening and extending integrally therefrom,further comprising a pair of edges, eachedge integrally secured at rightangles to the end walls ad` jacent the opening and extending into theopening for a short distance, said walls, lids, and edges being composedof a layer of glas wool enclosed in spaced sheets of plastic, the jointsformed at the intersection of the walls comprising a plastic beadenclosing the intersecting ends of the plastic sheets, and forming anair pocket about said ends the bead being stitched to the sheets, saidlids being secured to the edges with spring hinges biasing the lids inopposite rotary directions from a perpendicular position of the lidsrelative to the plane of the opening.

4. A bag comprising spaced side walls, a bottom wall, spaced end wallssecured to each other along their abutting edges and including a topaccess opening, in combination with a pair of closure lids pivotallysecured to the side walls and reciprocable from a closed overlappingposition to a fully open position, the bag being comprised of a plasticmaterial lined with insulation, in

further combination with a frame having fixed portions secured to theend walls adjacent the opening and movable portions secured to the lids,said movable portions and fixed portions being connected by springhinges whereby the lids are urged resiliently to the closed over lappingposition when the lids form an angle with the xed portions less than 90.and to the open position when the angle is more than 90.

5. A bag comprising walls enclosing a compartment, said walls beingcomposed of plastic layers surrounding a layer of insulation andincluding an open end surrounding an access opening in combination witha pair of closure lids pivotally secured to the said open end anddisposed above the opening on opposite sides thereof, said lids beingpivotally reciprocable from a closed overlapping position to an openposition, said lids further comprising inner aps secured to the innersurfaces of the lids adjacent the lid edges and including beveledsealing surfaces, the lids also including outer beveled sealing surfacesadapted to engage the ap sealing surfaces whereby the lids will engageeach other sealingly in the overlapping position regardless of therelative'lid positions.

6. A picnic bag as in claim 5 in combination with spring hingesconnecting the lids with the open end biasing the lids to the openposition when the lids form an angle greater than 90 with the plane ofthe open end and biasing the lids to a closed position when the angle isless than 90 References Cited in the tile of this patent yUNITED STATESPATENTS D. 147,487 Bienen Sept. 16, 1947 167,916 Lyon Sept. 21, 18751,022,976 Specht Apr. 9, 1912 2,024,758 Cart Dec. 17, 1935 2,289,254Eagles July 7, 1942 2,575,191 Seipp Nov. 13, 1951 2,575,893 Seaman Nov.20, 1951 2,661,785 Daust Dec. 8, 1953 2,667,198 Klein Jan. 26, 1954

